Container



July 30, 1957 J. A. PAGE Erm.

CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 12, 1955 I- u .|J| L\ HUHIUHHHHHHim ml H, L M INH Tiss |l INI J x \Q\ b WWMJMW wm um Jaw.

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July 30, 1957 J. A. PAGE ET AL CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Shee't 2 Filed OCT..l2, 1955 fije INVENTORS ATTORNEYS I Mm? July 30, 1957 J. A. PAGE ET AL2,801,125

CONTAINER Filed oct. 12, 1955 s sheets-sheet s ATTORNEYl United statesPatento CONTAINER James A. Page and Thomas B. Nix, Baton Rouge, La.,assignors to Delta Tank Manufacturing Company, Inc., Baton Rouge, La., acorporation of Louisiana Application October 12, 1955, Serial No.540,112

18 Claims. (Cl. 294-69) This invention relates to a container and moreparticularly relates to a large metal container for shipping andhandling drilling mud, Portland cement, and similar'dryv pulverulentmaterials. i

In oil eld operations it is necessary to ship and handle large volumesof drilling mud quickly, economically, and without contamination of themud with water or other materials. The containers used for this purposemust be sturdy, as light as possible, and susceptible of easy handlngand storage. emptied in a short period of time and there should be notendency for the mud to stick within the container upon emptying.

According to this invention there is provided a light weight, rugged mudcontainer which may be easily and quickly filled and emptied and sealedin a water tight condition. The container is so constructed that it maybe readily and quickly stacked upon other similar containers byconventional container handling equipment without the necessity foraccurately aligning `the/upper and lower containers. Quick opening upperand lower access openings are provided and each is'so constructed as tosubstantially eliminate water seepage into the container. A lsinglelever actuated lock is provided for the emptying door and Vprovision 4ismade for latching the lock in a locking position. The bottom door is ofan extremely rugged construction and contains bracing members whichcooperate with the door lock. A drip lip is provided around the'lowerdoor to prevent water or other uid seeping up into the'contaiuer.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to providean improved container for shipping and handling dry pulverulentmaterials in general and drilling mud in particular.

lt is another object of the invention to provide au improved metalcontainer having quick opening upper and lower access openings withprovisionsvfor substantially eliminating water seepage into thecontainer.

It isanother Vobject of the invention to provide improved'metalcontainers which may be easily stacked with-v out the necessity ofcontainers. p

-It is another object of the invention to provide an improved metalcontainer for dry pulverulent materials which is so constructed as toprevent caking and packing of the pulverulent material and to promoterapid emptying.

lt is another object of the invention to provide an improved metalcontainer for handling dry pulverulent ruaterials havinga self-latchinglock on the bottom access opening.

lt is Vanother object of thev invention to provide an improved metalcontainer for handling dry pulverulent materials having a quick openinglower access openinghaving a light weight sturdy closure door.

accurately vertically aligning the The containers must be easily lledandy proved metal container for handling dry pulverulent materialshaving an upper access opening which may be opened without the use oftools and which has a latch which continuously resiliently urges aclosure member for said access opening into closing position.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent uponreference to the following specification and claims and appendeddrawings wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation of a container constructed according to theinvention;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the container shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan View of the container shown in Figure l;

Figure 4 isa vertical section ofthe upper closure of the container takenalong the line 4 4 of VFigure 3;

Figure 5 is a detail vertical cross section taken along the 1ine`5-5 ofFigure 3 showing the construction .of the upper closure of thecontainer;

Figure 6 is a vertical cross section of details of the upper closure ofthe container taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 3; i

AFigure 7 is a vertical section taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 2showing details of the lower closure;

Figure 8 is a vertical section ofthe lower closure taken on line 8-8 ofFigure 7; and

Figure9 isa vertical elevation showing details of the latch constructionon the lower closure.

Referring to Figures l, 2 and 3 there is seen a container which consistsof a rectangular'upper portion 6 and a wedge shaped lower portion 8. Theupper portion 6 is comprised of side walls 10 and 12 which are joined toend walls 14 and 16. The end walls 14 and 16 extend straight down toform parallel walls of the lower portion 8, while the side walls 10 and12 are bent inwardly approximately 30 degrees to form sloping walls 18and 20 defining the wedge shaped lower portion 8.

The upperends of the side and end walls are provided with inwardlydirected auges 24, 26, 28 and 30 which are diagonally cut at the edgesand welded together along seams 32, 34, 36 and 38. A square lid deck 40having curvate depending flanges 42 is lwelded to -the wall anges 2430to seal the container top. A pair of lifting lugs 44 and 46 pass throughapertures in the flanges 28 and 30 and are welded to the inside ofv endwalls 14 and 16, to the wall anges 28 and 30 to the flanges 42 of thelid deck 40.

Referring to Figure 4, the lid deck is provided with a centrally locatedaperture deined by a vertically upstanding flange member 52 which mayeither be formed as an integralk part of the lid deck or as a separatemember welded to the lid deck as shown at 54. The opening formed by theupstanding flange 52 is closed by means of a lid 56 having a dependingangeSS and a square end 60 and semi-circular end 62. A heavy pipe 64 iswelded Iat 66 and 68 within the square end of the lid 56, as is bestseen in Figure 5, and matching` apertures are provided in the dependingflange 58 adjacent the ends of the pipe 64. A pair of L-shaped brackets70 and 72 are mounted on the lid deck 40 adjacent these apertures andthe lid is hinged to the deck by means of a bar 74 which passes throughthe brackets 70 and 72 and the pipe 64. A pair of cotter pins 76 and 78secure the bar 74 in position. A gasket 80 is mounted within the lid 56and sealed against the upstanding ange 52.

v The lid 56 is locked by means of a latch 82 shown in detail in Figure6. A bifurcated bracket 84 is Welded to the lid deck 40 adjacent thesemi-circular end of the lid 56 and a bar 86 is pivotally carried by thebifurcated bracket 84. The bar 86 has an upstanding arm 88 securedthereto between the arms of the bifurcated bracket 84 and this armpasses through a slot 90 in a slotted bar 92 which is welded to the lid56. The top end of the coil spring 98 in position.' VThe lower endof'the coil "spring 98 bears against a butterfly shaped handle 100 andforces the handle and lid 56 Vinto .a sealed closed position,

. The top *lid` 56 is unlatched by manually liftingtle` butternyhandleVv 1G0 until the Varm 88 canfbepivloted to. the right beyondtheend of the slotted .barf92.-v No special tools arenec'essary' forl theimlatc'hing' operation which may. beV performedf' quite rapidly.YVLatchin'g may.

also be performed .manually and the .spring 98 not only retainsthe'zhandle 10|)l din a1 lat'ching Vpositicui but also urges' the' :lid56 into `lsealing`'erigagn'mnt with. the ange 5,2. Y 'i Y Referring toFigure 7 walls 18 andr20are bent nearthebottom,thereoftoforrnverticabwall sections I 102 and"A 10"4"^AY pair ofY acute anglemembersv- 106and 10.84 are; welded' to thelvertical members `'102.11m104. a; 1110 112 1121. and `116 :te .feria extensions. of the sloping"'rnember'sjllfandl 20 l.and-to denne anelongated dischargey op4 i Jmembers 102 and 104e`xte" tions `118and. 120 of the acu Y l 108 and agaslret122 ofsome'suitable.materiahfsuchas b l t ehorizontalpor- Vfoamrubberisfmounted within the'` diainbier'thusforme'd., A bottom Ydoor 124having. depending.,flanges.Y .126 f isV mounted with' vhe lowermo"jedgesifthelverticalwalls 102 Yand i'tltlaga'insrt the gas a hinge'memberl which.y mates .With hinge. member 136 weldedto 'theverticahmember ,1.104.. hinge'fpin;

13s joins the hinge.members V1214- ,and .is'siop'rdvde la hinged'mounting rfor the bottom door 124..

Itjwill befnoted that the' upper surface of the bottom door; 24m'eet'sr' the gasketl 122 within'a recessedrarea` if will b' geen thatsipping asomanV the handle 162 when the latter is in the downward posiition shown in Figure 9. When it is, desired to unlatch the hooks thehandle 162 is rotated upwardly until it clears the stop 164 whereuponthe latching bar 156 may be shifted to the left untilrit clears thesupport lug 142.

utilized to rotate the pipe 150. so as to movethe hooksV 146 to anunlatched position.

'I'he hooked ends 148 of the hooks 146 engage a pair Y of bars 166fwhich are carried withinchannel shaped members 168 as shown in Figure8. The channel shaped members 168 consists of a pair of side walls 170and 172 which are joined by a web`17f4. The sides 170 and 172 extendthrough a slot in the ange 127 Von the door 124 and are providedwithwider sections 176:whichpv abut ngled ymembers 106and y A l otherend vof the ban 16,6 extends past theflange127 on. thebottom door124-between thewalls 170. and '.172 and .assiststhe walls inV providingVabracing.l member: for the:

above tlieplower edges of the vertical membersf102-and 1 104'; tfhasbeenwfoundV that where'the gasket isjcontained onta horizontalsurface'open to theelements water is heldr'on the surfaplcenbyv surfacetension in considerable quantitles with a. tendency to seepy intov thecontainer. Smce the material in the container normally has a very highainity'for water thisltendency is augmented and largel quantities of.waternare frequently drawn into'the container sol as to renderthepulverulent material therein too'- wet to empty satisfactorily. uponreaching its ,destinationzThe structurey Vshown in Figure7 provides Va idrip 11pV ln'the form of thel lowerl edges of the vertical l membersvf102 w'and1104 21nd, ."since the: annular clearance around therdoor andbelow therg'asket is in aver/tical p0;

orto remain there, if byY chance it does enter. 'The gasket is'locatedinaprotected corner which tends yto prevent mechanical damageu'and maybecemented into position instead lof requiring' Y 'nnechaiiicalvfastening.

x`Tlielatch for the bottomQdoor is shownin Figures 7V and-9 andvconsists of Va hooks bar 140 earried by a pair of supportllugsj142.mountedradjac'ent oppositel ends oflthe vertical member102'.vSinceFigufr'e 9 shows v(only one K.

half of thelocking arrangement 4only one'y Vsupportlug.142 is shown. Theother half 'of the locking system `-is identi-` cal tojthat vshown inFigure 9 eXceptthatltheY-safety latch is komittredj The hook ba'r140 issecured in position by means Yof apair'of cotter pins 1t44 and carriesabearing. pipe' ,150 'uponvwhichare mounted a pair of hooks1146 f havinghookfshaped lowerends'148. Avhandle 152 is welded y,tothe pipe.`5approi`imately midway between the hooks 146'a'nd provides aY singlemeans for operating .g

both ht'J'oksfasl a uniL.

The `pipe 1504s provide@ with a guide lug .1s`41w1`1ich. slidablycarries oneend of a latch bar 156-.- Theother bar'f15`6intermediate itsends anda st0pmember164- is `Qnfilgnlnted*[on'the vertical'memberY102Ywhere it engages. T16

against the underside ofA the, door;124; and.a.lso.. against thebackflange126 The exterior end ofthe bar4 166.y

has a rounded undersurface 178 whichco-operateswith the .hook 148andaroundedupper surface.;180.f The door. The web member174v inthechannelshaped member 168 stops short of the outerend Aof the. channel shaped-memberat 182,` to clear thehookedportion .148 .ofthe I hook, 146,VThe'side llplateslm. and.172 serveas side.

stops for the hook to prevent its slipping oifftheedge of the bar 166when the loaded container isdropped on one ccnjner.v Since thecontaineris relatively flexible and, is

ysubjectedito very severe handlingthis featurehas been found desirableto prevent inadvertent unlocking-with a resultinggspillage ofthecontainer. contents.v

p Referring to `Figlres l and 2 itiwill be seenthat the 1 `containerbody is provided with angle .iron support mem-il bers 184,186 and 188.at the. fourcorners thereof andi.

these l are weldedto the body just above -the slopingpor-A verticalwalls 102 and 104 of Ythelower portion vof the container body. Thelowermost edges 196.. and 198 of A the braces 192 and 194 are below thelowermostA portion of the. bottom door 124 so that;ifthe container issetiL upon Va support whichjisnarrowerthan the spacing be-V tween thehorizontal angle `irons 190 and. :191.the .door

is prot ected from damage. The edges 196 andf198 form convenientengaging surfaces fortheforksoffa conven "tional rfork lift to permiteasy handling ofthe container'.V

without dama ge tol its lower door.

The transverse vspacing between the horizontalangles 19,0 an'd 191 isYsuch that oneptcontainer may be. stackedabove the other withpthe.roundedanges 42;.of thelid t jdeck 40 guiding the legs into position.In order;to.stack r the containers a fork lift'truck is driven againstthecontainer body'with thel tines of the forkenga-ging the lower edges196 and 198 of plates 192 and 194.; The container is then lifted to asuicient heights and is deposited uponV *the top of asimilar `containerwith the rounded edges 42 of the lid `deck 40 lguiding the horizontalbars 190 .and

191 into position. l A seat for the stacking legsis .thus providedat'moderate cost without objectionable projecf. tions `and does notinterfere withthe tines of the forklift truck during stacking. It is asimple matter for a single operator to position one container uponanother. since it is not necessary to exactly locate the uppercontainerinv vertical Aalignment with the lower. Due to the Weight of aloaded container, Vusually around'several tons, it is not feasible tostack the containers whenthey are loaded, y.

and since empty containers are returned on the same type barges thatdeliver the filled containers, there is no necessity to stack thecontainers in transit. It is, however, important to be able to stack theempty containers to conserve yard space. Since the containers only haveto stacked in an empty condition it has been found unnecessary toprevent slippage except from side to side and the same lid deck whichaccomplishes this function also guides the uppercontainer into positionas a means of speeding and stacking operation.

The particular shape of the lower portion of the container body, viz.the two vertical side walls and two sloping sides inclined at an angleof no more than approximately 60 with respect to one another, forms animportant feature of the invention. It has been found that where thebottom of a container is conical or pyramidal in shape a wedging actionoccurs which causes arching of the material so that it is very ditlcultto empty the container contents. The action is often so pronounced thatthe material directly above the discharge opening falls out making ahole through the material from bottom to top but leaving compactedmaterial all around forming vertical walls. The problem is elfectivelysolved through the use of the two straight sides in conjunction with thesloping sides. With this construction as the bottom door opens theportion of the material above the opening falls out and there arethereafter two separated and unsupported portions of the material abovethe sloping sides which continue to fall free. It has been found that inorder to obtain this action the angle between the sloping walls 18- and20 should not exceed approximately 60.

-lIvt will be -apparent from the foregoing that containers constructedvaccording to this invention are sturdy, rela- -tively light in weightand capable of quick filling and emptying by means of quick openingclosures. The containers are capable of ready stacking and may behandled by a single operator with a conventional fork lift truck. Thecontainer is shaped -to prevent sticking and packing of its contents andis provided with an emptying door which is mounted to prevent seepageinto the containers.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrativeand not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by theappended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changeswhich come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims aretherefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:

l. A container for pulverulent materials comprising a container bodyhaving a top, a iirst pair of parallel walls joined to said top, asecond pair of parallel walls joined to said top and to said iirst wallsand having inwardly sloping lower portions joined to said iirst walls,an access opening and closure in said top, an access opening and closureat the bottom of said body, the sealing surface of the closure for saidlower access opening being recessed above the lowermost portions of thestructure defining said opening, a plurality of legs joined to thecorners of said body above said sloping portions and extending downbeyond said sloping portions and said lower closure, and a raisedcentral deck joined to said top by curved wall sections to dene a borderaround said deck for receiving the legs of another similar container.

2. A container for pulverulent materials comprising a pair of parallelside walls, a pair of parallel end walls connected to said side walls,each of said walls having an inwardly directed flange at the upper endthereofg a substantially rectangular inverted dished top comprlsing a atportion having a curved flange depending therefrom, the edge of saidcurved ange being attached. to said flanges on said walls, an opening insaid at portlon and a. lid therefor hinged to said dat portion, lnwardlysloping wall portions at the lower ends of said side walls portions ofsaid walls, and parallel legs extending downwardly from the junction ofsaid sloping wall portions and said parallel side walls, said legsextending beyond said closure door and being spaced to seat on theiiange of a similar container in contact with its curved ange.

3. A container as set out in claim 2 wherein the angle between saidsloping wall portions is no greater than approximately 60 degrees.

4. A container as set out in claim 2 wherein the lower ends of said legsare joined by parallel members spaced to lie on the ange of a similarcontainer in contact with its curved ange.

5. A container as set out in claim 2 including braces extending betweensaid sloping walls and said legs.

6. A container as set out in claim 5 wherein the lower surfaces of saidbraces are above the lower ends of said legs and below the lower surfaceof said door.

7. A Ycontainer comprising a body having a rectangular upper portion anda lower portion V-shaped at opposite sides thereof, an access openingand closure in the top of said upper portion, an access opening andclosure in the bottom of said lower section, the sealing surface of theclosure for said lower access opening being recessed above the lowermostportions of the structure 'dening said opening, a plurality of legsjoined to said rectangular upper portion and extending below said lowerportion, and braces extending between each of said legs and saidV-shaped lportionthe lowermost surfaces of said braces being above thelower ends of said legs and below said lower access opening.

8. In a container comprising a body having a rectangular upper portionand a generally wedge-shaped lower portion symmetrical with the centralvertical axis of said container and defining an elongated opening in thebottom thereof extending substantially completely across said container,said opening having a greater length than width, and an access openingand closure in the top of said upper portion; a door hinged to one ofthe long sides of the structure defining said elongated opening andclosing said opening, the upper surface of said door being recessedabove the lowermost portion of the structure dening said opening, shaftmeans pivotally mounted on said container adjacent the structuredefining the other long side of said elongated opening, a plurality ofspaced hooks mounted on said shaft means and engageable with said doorfor clamping said door in a closed position, handle means attached tosaid shaft means for moving said hooks in unison, and latch meansassociated with said shaft means and slidable parallel to said shaftmeans to engage a member ixed to said container for locking said hooksin a door clamping position, said shaft means and hook means underlyingsaid rectangular upper portion of said container.

9. A container as set out in claim 8 wherein said shaft means comprisesa tube mounted on a rod fixed to said container.

l0. A container as set out in claim 9 wherein said latch means comprisesa latching bar carried by said tube for sliding movement through anaperture in one of said hooks into engagement with said member fixed tosaid container.

1l. A container as set out in claim l() lwherein said wedge shaped lowerportion of said container has an abutment thereon below said latchingbar and extending past a vertical center line through said latching bar,and a handle extending from said latching bar, said .latching bar beingrotatable, said handle engaging and being h eld by said abutment whensaid latching bar is in a latchlng position and said handle extendsdownwardly.

l2. A container as set out in claim 9 wherein said rod 7 1 iscarriedbysupport lugs on'said container, said latching meansfcomprisin'gag'uide ele'rei onn saidV tube and a.

and ioe of` said hooks Vfor" engage'nieiit withVA an"apertre inonev ofsaid' support lugs.'

' underside of said door, and plate members attacherdto the Ysidesfofsaidbaanddepending therefrom, said hooks passing betviveen said kplate"members'when said door is clamped closedby' Said hooks. Y v Y, p

` 16/- A coiitainerfrpulverulentnaterials'comprising 'acontairierbody'having a top, a rst 'pair` of substantially parallelwallsjo'ined to'said"top, a yseeond pairof substau'tillyW paralleltwalls 'joined'to said topand to 'said 'st Walls Iard `having Vinwardly sloping lowerv portionsjoined'to said first walls, an'aecess openirgand closurenfsaid'topfanaec'ess opening-and closureat thebott'orn Y ofsaid'body,the sealing surface of Vthe closure for said lowenaccess' "openingbeing Yrecessed above the lowermoetV portionsfof 'the structure delnngsaid opening, a pliralityiof leg's joined rto the cornersof said bodyabove said Aslopingfporti'ons and extecli'ngdowiiy beyond said4 sloping.portions and 'said lower clos'lre,`a pair of parallel Cms barsJ'Qim'lg. th? 19W@ ende 0f sadlegs, andarais'ed; cerial decs joined@Said top, by depending anges ,tog dnelletweeniSadfagges anqlsaidwausurfaces, for reeeifingv and positioning the'ross bars offasimilarcoufVr tal-mii? 5,1,

.5 f=-f-`-i Vl7. A',container as setout in .claim 16 including,bracesextending between jeaclrJ of saidlegs arid-y said yWalls sub'.- 1stantially perpendicularvv tosaid l cross bars; the;loivve'rmostsurfaces of said` braces bein'gabove the, lower ends ofV sid legs andbelow said lower aceessopening; t Y

18. A container as'setout/in'claim l7'wherein said braces compriseplates attached to said le'gs adeto'fsaid" Iinwardly sloping portions ofsaid Walls(4 1 1,109,828 Goff l l sepas; 19141, 1,226,597 Re Y May15,1917, 1,847,516 j Knepper" 1 Mar. 1, .1932 1,995,939 ostenmk Mar. 26,19,35 2,036,170, Fildese; Maf; 31,' 1936V 2,063,650 woodrfff r r rD'ejc. 8,1936 2,076,608;`V Vifi/oceanie 1\pr.13,19375j 2,126,'949'YDitcheid 1 Aug, 16, 19,38 2,209,115; Fitzgerald' July 23,1940 25063481Woodruff' Dee, 22,1942

Y 2,324,356" BrownI 111 T 1 July 13, 1943v 2,333,879;v "ocennor Y Nov.9, 1943 2,336,566' 1 P11nitzl k 1 r Dee.11,1%3;V 2,556,3'5'41 wiliiamsonetal. June 12,1951 2,580,877 Barnard 1 f 1 12111.11952 2,663,268' p

